01-01-2011, 12:42 PM
Prepared by
KIRAN ANTONY
CTAHEEC058
Dept . of ECE
KMCTCE
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INTRODUCTION
Revolutionary multitouch computer with different look & feel.
It is a surface with a computing platform that responds to natural hand gestures and real world objects.
Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that’s easy for individuals to interact just like in the real world.
This uses a multi touch screen as user interface.
Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and actual unique objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.
HISTORY
2001: Microsoft researchers Steve Bathiche and Andy Wilson developed idea of interactive table that could understand the manipulation of physical pieces.
2003: 1st prototype model named T1which is based on an IKEA table was born.
2005 :Attention turned to its form factor- Tub proto type was designed.
2007:Final structure finalised,interactive tabletop device was built that seamlessly brings both the physical and virtual worlds into one.
FEATURES OF SURFACE COMPUTING
Direct interaction : Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands and interact with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.
Multi-touch contact : Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger, as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once.
Multi-user experience : The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.
Object recognition : Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.
STRUCTURE
(1) Screen: A diffuser turns the Surface's acrylic tabletop into a large horizontal "multitouch" screen, capable of processing multiple inputs from multiple users. The Surface can also recognize objects by their shapes or by reading coded "domino" tags.
(2) Infrared: Surface's "machine vision" operates in the near-infrared spectrum, using an 850-nanometer-wavelength LED light source aimed at the screen. When objects touch the tabletop, the light reflects back and is picked up by multiple infrared cameras with a net resolution of 1280 x 960.
(3) CPU: Surface uses many of the same components found in everyday desktop computers — a Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a 256MB graphics card. Wireless communication with devices on the surface is handled using WiFi and Bluetooth antennas (future versions may incorporate RFID or Near Field Communications). The underlying operating system is a modified version of Microsoft Vista.
(4) Projector: Microsoft's Surface uses the same DLP light engine found in many rear projection HDTVs. The footprint of the visible light screen, at 1024 x 768 pixels, is actually smaller than the invisible overlapping infrared projection to allow for better recognition at the edges of the screen.
WORKING
Microsoft Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and displayed using rear projection.
Microsoft Surface uses this rear projection system which displays an image onto the underside of thin diffuser.
Image processing system processes the camera images to detect fingers, custom tags and other objects such as paint brushes when touching the display.
The objects recognized with this system are reported to applications running in the computer so that they can react to object shapes, 2D tags, movement and touch.
